Foot and ankle protecting means



Juli} 3, 1928. 1,675,348 W. J. HARVEY I FOOT AND ANKLE PROTECTING MEANS Filed Jan. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 3, 1928. 1,675,348

w. J. HARVEY 4 FOOT AND ANKLE PROTECTING MEANS Filed Jan. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L INVFNTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM JOHN HARVEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOOT AND ANKLE PROTECTING MEANS.

Application filed January 14, 1927. Serial No. 161,046.

This invention relates, generally, to an improved form and construction of foot and ankle protecting means more especially adapted for womens and childrens wear; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of lightweight water-proof covering to serve pr1- marily as a protection to the ankles of the wearer, and which may also be made to combine in a novel manner with a foot covering of sandal-like form.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a simple and novel construction of water-proof ankle protectors in the form of gaiters made of comparatively thin rubber adapted to encase theankles and upper portions of the feet of the wearer to protect such parts from the wet in stormy weather and the invention has for a further object to provide in combination with the novel ankle protectors a novel construction of sandal-like members adapted to be separably connected with said angle protectors.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the objects of this inventionin view, the same consists in the novel construction of foot and ankle protecting means hereinafter more fully set forth; and the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which t Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel construction of water-proof ankle protector having in separable operative connection therewith a novel sandal-like member, all arranged according to and embodying the principles of my present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sandal-like member detached from the ankle protector;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one side, and Figure 4 is a similar perspective view showing the opposite side of, my novel ankle protector;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the rear side construction of the novel ankle protect i r Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary transverse section, taken on line 6-6 in Figure 5; i

And Figure 7 is a detail fragmentary transverse section, taken on line 77 in Fig- 7 ure 1.

at the front thereof, a heel covering portion 12 at the back thereof, and an ankle embracing portion 13 at the upper end thereof. The said main body thus formed is reenforced at its lower marginal portions by a marginal band 14 of greater thickness than that of the main body, and, in like manner, is reenforced at its upper marginalportions by a marginal band 15, also of greater thickness than that of the main body. Extending upwardly at the back of the main body from the heel portion 12 to the top of said ankle embracing portion 13 is a reenforcing and stiffening rib 16 integrally formed with said main body 10, as shown more especially in Figure 6 of the drawings. Since the main body is preferably made of comparatively thin rubber, the said reenforc ing and stiffening rib 16 serves to retain the ankle embracing portion 13 more especially against downward sagging or wrinkling, and thus assures a neat and smoothly fitting appearance of the article when worn. The main body 10 is made discontinuous at its outer side, and is provided along one marginal portion of the opening thus formed with fasteners, preferably in the form of buttons 17. Imbedded in the marginal portion of the opening to which said buttons 17 are applied, is a strip of fabric material 18, such as canvas, to which anchor loops 19are attached, the exterior eye-portions 20 of which are engaged through the perforate shanks 21 of said buttons 17 the rubber body being molded around the fabric button anchoring strip thus provided, all as shown more especially in Figure 7 of the drawings. The marginal portionof the opposite side; of theopenin provided in the outer side of said main lady is preferably at increased thickness, as shown at :22, to reenforee or strengthen such marginal portion, and formed therein are button-holes 23 for separable engagement with the buttons 17 to close said opening and thus secure the ankle protector in operative enveloping relation to the foot and ankle portions of the wearers person. Extending across and integral with the forward marginal part of said instep covering portion 11 is a thickenedv reenforcing band 243, the same being extended ateaeh side downwardly beyondthe bottom portion of the main body, said extended portions 25 thus formed being interconnected by a bottom strap 26 integrally formed therewith, and, adapted to extend beneath the foot of the wearer so as to retain the ankle protector in position and against upward displacement when worn.

Suitably secured to the inner side of the main body 10 at the lower marginal portion 14 thereof, and opposite the lower button 17 at the outer side thereof, is a fastener button 27. I

The reference character 28 indicate a rubber sandal member having a sole portion 29, and provided at its rearward end and at each side thereof withreai-w'ardly extending integral fastener straps or tongues 30 having in their extremities button-holes 31.

hen the ankle-protector is applied to the footiof the wearer and buttoned on over the shoe so as to extend upwardly thereupon and around the ankle, the same will so cover and enclose the parts as to elficiently protect the stockings from becoming wet or damp, and also from spattering by muddy water, mud or the like, thus affording a very desirable protection from both standpoints of health as well as appearance. It will be understood that the novel ankleprotector may be made in desirable color effects, so that in and of itself it will provide an attractive feature of dress especially for women. The novel sandal member 28 combines with the 'ankleprotector so as to afford additional protectionto the foot, the same being engaged over the shoe, and being thereupon retained against accidental displacement therefrom by buttoning the straps or' tongues 30 respectively wit-h the lowermost button 17 at the outerside of the, ankle-protector and with the button 27 at the inner side of said ankleprotector, thus providing with the latter a. most satisfactory covering protection of very neat and novel appearance.

It will be understood that while I have described in detail one form of my novel foot and anklefprote'eting means, I do not thereby limit myself to the precise features of construction illustrated, as I am aware that some modification and variation thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and loop toextend beneath the foot of the wearer, 3

and a separable sandal member having rearwardly projecting attachment tongues at each side thereof provided in their extremities with fastener meansfor separable 'engagement with fastener devices at opposite sides of said main body.

2. In combination, an ankle protector made of 'coinparatively thin rubber, comprising a main body "open vertically at one side, the meeting margins of said opening having cooperating fastener devices, an additional fastener device at the opposite side of said main body, the forward end of said main body having integral therewith a bottom strap loop to extendbeneath the foot of the wearer, saidfinain body being further provided with a vertically disposed integral supporting rib extending up the back thereof, and aseparable sandal member having rearwardly projecting attachment tongues at each side there- Of providedjin their extremities with fastener means forseparable engagement with fastener devi'cesat opposite'sides of said main edyr 'j 3. In combination, an ankle protector made of comparatively thin rubber, comprising a main body open vertically at its outer side,

the meeting margins of said opening having cooperatingclosure devices in the form of buttons ant button holes, the top and bottom marginalportions of said ma n body having integrally formed therewith thickened reen-' forcing bands, the forward end of said main body having integral therewith a bottom strap loop to extend beneath the foot of the wearer, said: main body being further provided with av'ei'tically disposed integral supporti 'ig rib extending up the back thereof, an additionalbutton fastener connected with the inner side of said main body, and a separable sandal member having rearwardlyprojecting attacln'hent tongues at each side there of provided in their extremities with button holes engageable with button fasteners on opposite sides of said inainbody.

'In testimonyfthat I claim the invention set forth above I- have hereunto set my hand this 13th'dayof January, 1927.

WILLIAM. JOHN HARVEY. 

